THE SOLAR ECLIPSE and GOD’S HOPE

"What has come into being in [Jesus] was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:3-5)

One of the great experiences that I had with fellowship staff, family, and friends this past Monday, April 8^th was to watch the partial solar eclipse together outside from the church parking lot.  While we here in Georgia did not have a total (100%) eclipse like some places experienced around in the U.S. west and north of us, it was still an impressive sight and experience! (You’ll see in this article some of the pictures I took of the partial eclipse with my own telescope).

For the 10 or so minutes that the sun was blocked 81% by the moon, we all noted that even though it was not a total eclipse, there was still a palpable temperature drop, and the sky was noticeably dimmer – it felt sort of like dusk on a Fall evening.  Perhaps you were outside that afternoon during the time of maximum blockage (3:01pm here in Georgia) and experienced something similar! 

But as awesome as this was, its transient nature reminded me of the very first Easter… just as the life, love and hope of God’s “Son” got “eclipsed” by the “darkness” of death and evil from the cross on Good Friday, the reality was that was only temporary.  Instead, just as the sun eventually reappeared shining at full strength on Monday afternoon after the end of the solar eclipse, so God’s “Son” resurrected Jesus reappeared on Easter morning “shining” his full light, love and hope again, as well.

In the same way, just as there are times in which the light, love and hope of God gets eclipsed in our own lives by “dark” things like tragedy, death, disease, division, racism, violence, war, fear, and so much else, those things do not last either – the “light” of God’s love, hope, and peace eventually win out and drive the dark away! 

So, when God’s light is “eclipsed” by darkness in your life, don’t give up hope – its only temporary; his “Son” will soon shine again!  Always remember that God loves you and I do, too!

 

Jesus Is On the Loose!

“The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.” (Luke 24:34-35)

A number of years ago, now deceased United Methodist Bishop Mike Coyner shared an experience he had while leading a  children’s moment during worship in which he was talking with the children about Easter.  He asked “What did it mean that the tomb was empty?”  And without missing a beat, one of them  replied enthusiastically “It means that Jesus is on the loose!”

Mike takes it from there:  “That child was right.  Easter is not about worshipping a Risen Christ who is captured in our stained-glass windows, or in our wonderful choir cantatas, or in beautiful Easter lilies, or even in dynamic sermons proclaiming ‘Christ is Risen!’  No, Jesus cannot be contained in our celebrations of Easter.  He is on the loose!  He is out ahead of us!  He is already leading the way into new life.  In fact, the message of Easter seems to be, ‘You just missed him.  He was just here, but he is gone already.’  What do we do with such a Jesus?  He won’t stay long in any one place.  He is always moving on to the next place of need.

I heard a story a few years ago about a church that voted to open its doors to a homeless shelter.  This caused quite a controversy in that staid, respectable, religious congregation.  In fact, one woman who opposed the idea confronted her pastor in great anger by yelling, ‘If Jesus knew you were letting those dirty people into our church, he would roll over in his grave!’  She had missed the whole point of Easter:  Jesus isn’t in his grave.  He is on the loose.  And he is leading us to do ministry in hard places, with difficult people, in circumstances that are not easy…..

So, let’s take time to celebrate Easter.  But then let’s hurry on to try to catch up with Jesus, because he’s still on the loose!”
            [--Bishop Mike Coyner, cited in the newsletter of Trinity-on-the-Hill UMC (Augusta, GA) April 20, 2001]

My prayer is that wherever you find yourself this holiday season, you would remember that Easter is not a holiday on a calendar, but a spiritual event that should impact and guide all that we do and say as his followers.  Despite the reality of sin, turmoil and evil in our world, Jesus is still “on the loose”, working in the lives of those who will claim him.  Is he “on the loose” in YOUR life?

Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

The Old Rugged Cross

“For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

“On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For' twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

Refrain:
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross, ‘Til my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,  And exchange it some day for a crown.”

[--Verses 1-3 of hymn “The Old Rugged Cross,” #504 in The United Methodist Hymnal, by George Bennard]

This Holy Week, it is good for us to remember how God used the cross of Christ as a tragic and ironic instrument for the salvation of all humankind, and how through that cross, God’s great, wondrous love was shown to/for each of us! Jesus suffered and died there so that you and I might have victory and life today as Christians. Our salvation might be free to us, but it cost Jesus everything! Blessed is Jesus, who allowed himself to be nailed to a cross for your sake and mine! Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

What Is God Saying to You?

Who am I? Where am I going? How does God fit into my life? How can my relationship with God help me through tough times?  These are a few of the questions we’ll be exploring at Cornerstone United Methodist Church in a new worship series called “VOICES OF LENT.”  

Shared during worship February 25-March 24, we’ll explore some of the spiritual themes of the Christian season of “Lent,” and how these can sustain and empower us in our lives today.

February 25 -- The Voice of Belonging (Mark 1:9-11)

Discovering our identity in Christ

March 3 – The Voice of Invitation (Matthew 14:22-32) 

                                    Learning how to answer God's calls

March 10 -- The Voice of Awe (Exodus 20:1-20)

Discovering the purposes of God’s law

March 17 -- The Voice of Forgiveness (Psalm 51:1-17)

Discovering the power of forgiveness

March 24 (Palm/Passion Sunday) -- The Voice of Silence (Mark 15:34-39)

Learning to trust God through difficult and trying times

 

L E N T

“Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus....” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

LENT.  No, it’s not just something that sticks to your clothes.  Instead, Lent is also a season of the Christian year in which we not only prepare our lives for the Easter message of life, death, suffering, and resurrection, but are also encouraged to identify with Christ by allowing us to be used by him as vehicles of God’s grace to others.

The word “Lent” itself comes from the Anglo-Saxon word lencten, which means "spring" -- a reference to the "new life" that Christ brings to us, just as spring brings new life to nature.  For the forty days prior to Easter (beginning this coming Ash Wednesday, February 14th and culminating with Good Friday, March 29th), Christians are invited to focus upon how we practice following Christ in every arena of our lives: home; on the job; at church; in our finances; and in our relationships with others.

And because of its emphasis upon the sacrifice of Christ, Lent has traditionally been a time in which Christians are encouraged to give up worldly things in order to replace them with spiritual things.  As the above scripture reminds us, we are to “lay aside the weight(s) and the sin” that keep us from being the spouse, the friend, the work/schoolmate, etc. that God desires us to be.

What things hinder and interfere with you being the person who God created you to be?  worry?  jealousy?  envy?  bitterness?  pessimism?  fear?  pride?  a bad habit?  gossip?  a judging spirit?  Whatever it is, Lent invites us to give it up -- to junk it -- and, in its place, “look to Jesus” to equip us with those things (love, joy, patience, kindness, forgiveness, etc.) that can help us to “run with perseverance the race [of life] that is set before us.”

Remember, God loves you and I do, too!

1 Corinthians 13 for Today

 “Now faith, hope, and love remain—these three things—and the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13, CEB)

Today in worship, I invite our congregation to read together in unison a re-write of the famous “love chapter” from the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 that I wrote.  Here are its words in case you want to re-read it or share it with others…

            “If I worship God in a certain style that I know to be the ‘appropriate’ one, but look down my nose at others who worship differently, or have different skin color, politics, or cultural heritage, then I’m nothing more than a loud, ringing, obnoxious cell phone in a quiet, romantic restaurant.

            If while at church, I speak to all my closest friends each and every week, but fail to go out of my way to welcome the stranger and the guest, then I’m like a tourist at the Grand Canyon who’s only concern is that there’s no WiFi in my hotel room.

            If I do things ‘by the book’ in my church committee or ministry meeting, but ignore the spirit of love that that book represents, then I’m no better than a freight train intentionally running over an innocent bystander.

            If I’m convinced that I’m theologically ‘correct’ about what the Bible says, but don’t manifest those beliefs through my respect and love for others with whom I disagree, then in the eyes of God all my ‘correct’ beliefs count for precisely nothing.

            The heart of Christianity is love and humility in all things.  Acting in love is more important than being ‘right.’  Sharing Christ’s love is more important than whether or not we always get our way.  Love will never fail -- it’s to be the primary motivation for all we say and do in God’s church.

            In the past, when we were young Christians and a young church, we took pride in being gatekeepers of tradition; in not allowing new ideas, new ways of thinking, and new, different people from affecting us too much.  But now that we’re growing up and maturing in our faith, we know we can’t continue to act the way we used to.  Love requires that we give up our old, immature ways.

            So now these three remain: FAITH to trust God through changes and new things and new people; HOPE that we don’t have to be who we used to be; and LOVE which enables us to live and act more Christlike along our life's journeys.  But the greatest of these is self-giving, self-sacrificing, God-like LOVE.”

Always remember that God loves you and I do, too!

Back to the Basics

Who is God?  Why believe in Jesus as God’s son?  Why do we need the church?  How is the Bible to be an authority in our lives? Invite your friends and family January 7 - February 11, 2024 as we explore answers to these questions and more in a new six-week sermon series called “Christianity 101." Come rediscover how the basics of Christian faith can help guide you in life!

 January 7 -- I AM  (Exodus 3:13-15)

The character and nature of God in our lives

 January 14 -- Who Am I?  (Mark 8:27-30)

The purpose and role of Jesus in our faith

 January 21 -- Got Spirit? (Luke 3:15-17,21-22; Acts 1:8)

The function and role of the Holy Spirit

 January 28 – Navigation (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

The Bible as God’s navigation system for life

 February 4 -- Body Parts (1 Corinthians 12:12-27)

The purpose and need for the Church in our faith

 February 4 – The Heart of It All (Matthew 22:37-40; John 13:35)

The heart of Christianity as a love of God and neighbor